I don't understand why I'm reviewing this in Exposé... maybe it's the Mellotron? Without being too judgemental on a genre that I inherently dislike in the first place, the 70s American hard... » Read more(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1996-03-01)

Bloque were a Spanish quintet who released several albums on the Chapa label in the late 70s/early 80s of which this is their third album and arguably best. Bloque played in a pretty straight-forward... » Read more(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1996-03-01)

Anekdoten seems to be one of the most well received groups of the new "progressive" resurgence. Their debut has evidently reached the five-digit sales mark and was given wide critical acclaim on its... » Read more(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1996-03-01)

After Tipographica's amazing 1994 debut, the big question was: could these guys pull it off live? Well, here's the living proof. Actually, Tipographica has been together since around 1989, gigging... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-03-01)

Although this fabulous Japanese quintet made a big splash with their self-titled debut last year, that album was actually recorded in 1992. This new release, a collection of seven live performances,... » Read more(Posted by Dan Casey 1996-03-01)

The third release from A Triggering Myth continues to showcase the talents of Tim Drumheller and Rick Eddy. Both are apparently keyboard players foremost, but between them, they manage to cover most... » Read more(Posted by Mike Grimes 1996-03-01)

A Triggering Myth continues to be Tim Drumheller and Rick Eddy. So says the liner notes of this, their third album. Hailing from Massachusetts, the duo also continues to make music much the same as... » Read more(Posted by Dan Casey 1996-03-01)

This is the third outing for the keyboard propelled duo of Rick Eddy and Tim Drumheller, collectively known as A Triggering Myth. For anyone familiar with their previous two efforts (a self-titled... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-03-01)

Especially after great shows at a couple of the Monster Prog shows in the last year or so, Anekdoten's follow up to the much heralded Vemod has surely been one of the most anticipated prog... » Read more(Posted by Mike Grimes 1996-03-01)

Anekdoten's eagerly anticipated sophomore effort proves to be a masterful development and refinement of their heavy and driving progressive sound. While Nucleus certainly adheres to the essence of... » Read more(Posted by Rob Walker 1996-03-01)

It was just last issue in our Belle Antique label overview that this writer said something to the effect that since all the best tracks from Kenso's first eponymous LP had been included as bonus... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-08-01)

There is a distinct Eastern European feeling to this. Be it in the stern voices over syncopated binary rhythms where saxophones are rarely making notes lasting longer than a third of a second. Be it... » Read more(Posted by Alain Lachapelle 1996-08-01)

It's a pretty rare event when I can honestly compare a CD reviewed in this magazine to both Devo and Madness, so I'm going to make the most of it here. The Devo comparisons are actually quite... » Read more(Posted by Mike Grimes 1996-08-01)

If one is wondering how to pronounce the title of the fourth album by this equally unpronounceable Czech sextet, don't feel too bad — the writer is in essentially the same boat. Just call it UJD #4.... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-08-01)

I'm not certain if this band is named from the lyric of Genesis' "I Know What I Like," but that could begin to explain the myriad of styles the band employs. Garden Wall has a metalish rhythm section... » Read more(Posted by Jeff Melton 1996-08-01)

One might ask how Garden Wall could possibly top their previous album, Path of Dreams from 1994. This writer was initially skeptical about that possibility, but after a few listens to this... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-08-01)

When I first heard the name "Garden Wall," I thought, "This band must be another one of those Genesis influenced bands." Well, after listening to the CD, I wonder if they've ever even heard of... » Read more(Posted by Mike Grimes 1996-08-01)

Now here's a band who has made some serious progress. From listening to Principium or Path of Dreams, there's no way of telling that they would have made this much of a step up. ... » Read more(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1996-08-01)

Another Canterbury related release makes its way to the surface. This disc is mostly a posthumous release from a live set in 1982 when guitarist Mark Hewins replaced the then recently deceased Alan ... » Read more(Posted by Jeff Melton 1996-03-01)

I'm an unabashed admirer of practically everything Steve Roach does nowadays as his ambient voyages are amazingly evocative and year after year he continues to produce great music. This collaboration... » Read more(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1996-03-01)

It's truly amazing what people can pull out of the vaults that wasn't originally released in the first place. This collaboration between Ashra's Manuel Göttsching and Agitation Free's Michael Hoenig... » Read more(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1996-03-01)

For those that checked out his highly regarded Acoustic Shadow (reviewed in last issues' roundtable), this release is a completely different side of Weingarten's musical persona. It's my... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-03-01)

For those unfamiliar with Urban Sax, check out the reviews of their earlier albums in issue #5 for all the background information. This four-track mini-CD (eighteen minutes total) captures a live... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-03-01)

Always a surprise, each new album by Jean-Pascal Boffo is a radical departure from all those that preceded it, and his latest Offrande is no exception — this time operating within a... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-03-01)

The problem with any collection by an artist as diverse as one-time Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips is that, depending on the selection of material, the listener may come away with only a partial... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-03-01)

The first major label release from former Soft Machine keyboardists Karl Jenkins and Mike Ratledge is a vocal/orchestral work based around varying Greek entitled themes. Having been out of the... » Read more(Posted by Jeff Melton 1996-03-01)

Oh yeah! More gold mined from the Soft Machine treasure troves! Softs re-releases are innumerable between the UK and USA in the past two years (and will continue to be through 1996), but somehow... » Read more(Posted by Jeff Melton 1996-03-01)

Remember an album called Passionworks by Heart? With that given as a basic reference for most of the songs on vocalist Lana Lane's album, there are some slight diversions, mostly in the... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-03-01)

It's should be pretty clear from the outside what you're in for on the inside. Front cover: is it Dracula walking away from his latest victim? Back cover: a graveyard! And inside the the booklet among... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-03-01)

Roedelius has been quietly producing his unmistakingly original music for a long time now. And it's high time that he be given the kudos lauded upon his parent group. Yes, I am aware that Cluster was... » Read more(Posted by Mike Ezzo 1996-03-01)

A year had gone by without a release from the Ozrics. Some were sure they had dropped off the face of the earth. The early 90s saw OT banging 'em out like popcorn. And they had become unanimously... » Read more(Posted by Dan Casey 1996-03-01)

There's been a lot of commotion about this since its release. When I started seeing it listed on peoples' top picks of '95, I figured I better get a copy and find out what the fuss is all about. Seems... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-03-01)

Looking for some loud, heavy, angry, dissonant prog rock, sort of like 70s Crimson, but without all the soft parts? Well, look no more, Altered States is precisely what you need. Their music is... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-03-01)

Landberk's second CD-EP breaks no new territory, nor develops on their practically patented style, yet again delivers the goods. While I find that their music isn't as translatable live (both... » Read more(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1996-03-01)

For those who know Steensland from his earlier release Lonesome Combat Ensemble on Musea, it will only take a couple minutes of this latest release to figure out that he's turned the energy... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-03-01)

A five-piece from New York, Braindance offer an incisive progressive rock with a metallic edge, science fiction themes and an overall dark and gothic spirit. Using acoustic and electric guitars,... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-03-01)

This obscure Swedish progressive quintet originally released Barndomens Stigar on the small, but very excellent Bauta label in 1981 and it has since become a highly coveted and very expensive... » Read more(Posted by Dean Suzuki 1996-03-01)

Kit Watkins' newest effort is one of those CDs created so that the tracks can be played in different orders. Watkins suggests besides playing it all the way through you can also program your player... » Read more(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-07-01)

Since his days with Happy The Man and Camel, Watkins' solo career has been anything but a predictable journey, venturing into ambient soundscapes, soothing impressionistic sorties, programmed... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-07-01)

Watkins' latest effort is an interesting one. The album is divided into two sets. The odd numbered tracks are "introspective" in style with little or no rhythm section, and keyboards are primarily... » Read more(Posted by Mike Grimes 1995-07-01)

While Fang's earlier material was more firmly based in the electronic and progressive rock genres, his recent recordings have found him delving deeper and deeper into experimentation with various... » Read more(Posted by Rob Walker 1995-07-01)

This is Forrest Fang's first album for Cuneiform, but his sixth overall. Through the years, Fang's music has gradually shifted from a more ambient/electronic music (Eno, Terry Riley) mixed with... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-07-01)

Echolyn seems to be intent on making a career walking the line between commercially acceptable album-oriented rock and something a bit more challenging. First off, As the World is much more... » Read more(Posted by Mike Borella 1995-07-01)

Reviewing Echolyn's Sony debut is a chore in itself! This is definitely where words fail — are they progressive? Is it pop? Where does this fit? I'm sure this is going to be cause for many split... » Read more(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-07-01)

First off, as promised this major-label debut (actually their third full album) is not a sell-out in any way, shape or form. Echolyn have maintained the essence of their sound as defined on the... » Read more(Posted by Dan Casey 1995-07-01)

What started out as an arty project composed mostly of ex-members of Boston noise-band Mission of Burma seems to have become primarily the vehicle for keyboardist/composer Erik Lindgren. Lindgren... » Read more(Posted by Mike Ohman 1995-07-01)

Dancing on A'a is another outstanding release from this unique, eclectic, and virtually-impossible-to-describe ensemble. The music of Birdsongs of the Mesozoic is a bizarre and quirky... » Read more(Posted by Rob Walker 1995-07-01)

It's refreshing to hear new bands that sound like they've never heard a Marillion record in their life, in fact in the case of Atlanta's Timothy Pure, my impression is that they may be strangers to... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-07-01)

Another complete surprise from the folks at Musea! Broguière is a young composer and musician from Paris, and Brocéliande is his debut album — a very strong entry for a new musician who... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-07-01)

It's so easy to hang labels on things, but in the end the true value of a piece of music is a fairly subjective thing — except maybe for those consumed with dissecting every detail ad nauseum. I'm a... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

One of Zappa's complaints through the years was the difficulty of getting an orchestra to play his pieces the way he wanted them to. Enter the Ensemble Modern, a Frankfurt-based, self-sustained group... » Read more(Posted by Mike Borella 1995-03-01)

I haven't been keeping up to date with Galahad, the last album I had heard was their first CD Nothing Is Written from more years ago than I care to remember. Based on that album I had written... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-03-01)

An American band, and another in a long line of neo-progsters produced (in part, at least) by Marillion guitarist Steve Rothery. Someday, someone ought to make a compilation of Rothery's productions.... » Read more(Posted by Mike Ohman 1994-10-01)

Since disbanding BeBop Deluxe more than twenty years ago, Bill Nelson has released more than thirty solo albums ranging from engaging progressive pop to long ambient works written for art... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2001-03-01)

For those who read Exposé, sax genius Yochk'o Seffer should be well known. Practically the John Coltrane of French fusion and new music, Seffer's touch has graced many classics from early... » Read more(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-11-01)

A brand new live album by Décamps, a superb follow-up to his 1994 studio album Nu, even though only one track from that album is included in this set (and it's one of the most abrasive —... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-11-01)

Here is one of those albums revered by collectors, with a pricetag on the original vinyl to match — only 400 copies of this baby were pressed in '71. Yet it's only a fraction of what an earlier... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-11-01)

Zao's second album was recorded in 1974, and originally released on Richard Pinhas' startup Disjuncta label. Despite the minimal resources available to Pinhas, Osiris fared well, surpassing... » Read more(Posted by Rob Walker 1995-11-01)

This is some heavy stuff! If crunchy swirling Hammond B3 at full volume through Leslie speakers — accompanied only by bass and drums — is something that might interest you, then listen up. Death... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-07-01)

Vier is the fourth and latest chapter of avant garde electronic experimentation from Tonart. Tonart began in 1992 as the collaborative efforts of Conrad Schnitzler, Lars Stroschen, and Jörg... » Read more(Posted by Henry Schneider 1995-07-01)

Rich's various sonic collaborations have taken another detour into new territory on this, his first album length collaboration with sarod player Lisa Moskow. From the huge soundscapes on his early... » Read more(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-07-01)

Originally released on the Synkronos compilation tape Facets in 1991, Mike Metlay’s contribution Band of Fire is now available in all its glory on a limited edition CD maxi-single.... » Read more(Posted by Henry Schneider 1997-12-31)

After a less-than-spectacular live performance before Progfest '95, I wasn't expecting much from this, the second CD by this Southern California based quartet. Overall, their sound now seems to occupy... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-08-01)

Saying Israeli composer and vocalist Meira Asher is a vanguard comes as a bit of an understatement. Her work has been acclaimed worldwide as she meshes and scrutinizes world culture to fit her... » Read more(Posted by Jeff Melton 2006-05-01)

Kilgore Trout has been kicking around the Northwest for some years now, after relocating here from the Northeast. This migration to Seattle might be typical for a rock band, especially a really loud... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2000-05-01)

Verdeaux' name should be familiar to many, he was the main mover in the intensely symphonic seventies French band Clearlight, whose first two albums Symphony and Forever Blowing... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-03-01)

To start off with, we have four albums on two compact discs, a wise choice in consolidating this band's major works together in one bundle for your hungry consumers. The set comprises the... » Read more(Posted by Jeff Melton 1996-03-01)

By now everyone should know that these classic German space rockers have reformed after about a twelve year hiatus. Last year's Nada Moonshine #, while not quite up to the standards set by... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-08-01)

It's always a challenge to review an album that I'm sure everyone has, but here goes... Recorded just prior to their extensive worldwide tour, these recordings accurately reflect the 1995 version of... » Read more(Posted by Mike Grimes 1996-08-01)

Anyone remember when indie rock really was far-out and alternative? Welcome to the lo-fi, do-it-yourself world of Azalia Snail. » Read more(Posted by Mike Ohman 1999-01-01)

Latest news

2019-08-20Alex's Hand Seeks Spa Treatment –
American / European band Alex's Hand has a new album in the works called Hungarian Spa, which looks to be their biggest and best yet, featuring a large roster of guest musicians. They're seeking funding to take the project on the road, and are looking for help from the crowd of wisdom. »
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2019-06-05Legendary Co-Founder of The 13th Floor Elevators Passes Away at Age 71 –
Sadly, Roky Erickson passed away on May 31, 2019. Known as the father of psychedelic music and co-founder of the ground breaking 13th Floor Elevators, Roky had a profound influence on music from the 60s to today. Plagued by his own personal demons, Roky had a difficult life and is now free of these burdens. »
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2019-04-24Help MoonJune Bring Great Music to Life –
Like many music lovers around the world, we’ve been thrilled and amazed to hear the recordings that have been released by MoonJune from sessions at La Casa Murada in Spain. Such label stalwarts as Mark Wingfield, Markus Reuter, Asaf Sirkis, Tony Levin, Dusan Jevtovic, Vasil Hadzimanov, and many more have gathered in various combinations at the studio to produce some of the most creative music in recent years. Now, label head Leonardo Pavkovic is offering a compilation, La Casa Murada - MoonJune Sessions, Volume One, as a fundraiser for upcoming sessions. »
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2019-04-10The Pineapple Thief to Tour North America –
November and December of 2019 will see The Pineapple Thief bringing their music to Canada, Mexico, and the US, and famed drummer Gavin Harrison will be on board. The band has been touring extensively in Europe, but North America will be new territory for them. »
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2019-03-25Scott Walker RIP –
Noel Scott Engel, better known as Scott Walker, was one of the most intriguing and enigmatic musical figures in the second half of the 20th Century. His strange career started with The Walker Brothers, an American pop group that featured no one named Walker and no brothers. After moving to England in 1965, they had a series of hit singles. Scott's solo work started with Scott in 1967. Starting in the 80s, his work took an increasingly avant-garde turn. »
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Previously in Exposé...

Tyrannosaurus Rex - Early reissues –
Here we have the long-awaited reissue of Marc Bolan’s earliest recordings, back when Tyrannosaurus was spelled out in full and electric guitars were unusual coloring rather than the foundation...
(2001) »
Read more

Miriodor - Jongleries Élastiques –
For their fourth album (fifth if you count the cassette that came out between the first and second), Miriodor has again pulled out a long list of surprises. Their sound is rooted in the chamber rock...
(1996) »
Read more

Biota - Object Holder –
I must admit up front that Biota has been around a lot longer than I have been tuned in to their music. My introduction, less than two years ago, was an early LP titled Horde by the Mnemonists (same...
(1995) »
Read more

Twin Age - Moving the Deck Chairs –
Ten years ago this would have been right at home on the SI label. For many readers, maybe that’s all you need to know. If you don’t know what that means, well, consider some of the more...
(2001) »
Read more

Soft Machine - Virtually –
The classic four-piece lineup that recorded Third and 4 is captured here live in concert from March 1971 in Bremen, Germany, only weeks before drummer / vocalist Robert Wyatt would call it a day with...
(1998) »
Read more